Page 16 of Intangible
“For making me laugh in the middle of this horrible situation. If I could hug you right now, I would.” She tried to bump his shoulder, forgetting she would pass into him. She started giggling again.
“That’s the second time I’ve been inside you. Next time it’s your turn.” Turning pink, she clamped her hand over her mouth. “I can’t believe I said that.”
“We’d better go check the tunnel out. If you make me hard again, Knox really will chop it off.” Memphis stood crossing through the bars.
“Again?”
He just turned, winking at her before stepping to the doorway.
“Follow behind me. When we get to the end, I’ll try to pop outside to see what I can see. Wait for me, but if you hear anything, run back for the cell. I’ll just fade away.”
Thayer looked at him, her eyebrows knit in concern as she followed him slowly.
“I don’t like the idea of you just fading away.”
“I’ll just go back to the hotel room. It’s fine. Come on.” Memphis led the way down the tunnel, slowly following the light from the bulb halfway down. At the end, there was a set of stairs leading up. “Wait here a second.”
Climbing the stairs, he passed through the door, finding himself outside. A quick look around confirmed that the door was chained shut with a padlock, preventing anyone without a key from entering or leaving. There was an old rusting shed next to the door with old equipment lying around. The roof had partially collapsed years ago. The whole thing lay in the middle of the woods on the side of a mountain.
He could hear muffled yelling coming from the cellar door. Walking back through it, he climbed down in front of Thayer.
“Is everything okay? I tried pushing on the door, but it won’t open,” she said, concern lacing her words. He was standing as close to her as he could without touching her. He desperately tried to control his heart rate, certain she would hear the hammering. She had climbed the stairs, hoping to get out.
“It’s fine, but I need to look around some more. Will you be okay alone for a few minutes?” She nodded with wide eyes. “There’s no one up there, so you’re safe. Do you trust me?” he asked.
“Yes,” she said without hesitation.
“Then trust me to come back to you in a few minutes. I have to get all the information I can for Knox.” When she nodded again, he pushed back out through the door.
Looking at the foliage around him, he memorized every variety he recognized. There was a rough dirt road to the location, which was good. He thought he could hear water running in the distance, but couldn’t see its source.
He walked as far as he could before starting to fade. When he had all of the information he could, he returned to Thayer.
“Anything?” she asked the second he reentered the tunnel. She reached out, trying to touch him for reassurance, her hand passing through his arm. Soon he would come for her for real, then Memphis would be happy for her to hold on to him for all she was worth.
“I think so. I need to get the information back to Knox. He’s brought in drones and the FBI. He’ll rip this entire country apart hunting for you if he has to.” She nodded slowly, but the fear was still hovering in her eyes. “Let’s get you back so I can report in.”
When she shook her head furiously, he stooped down until he could look into her eyes. They were still standing on the old cement steps leading out of her dungeon.
“Please don’t make me go back in that cage,” she whispered in terror at him. It broke his heart seeing her this scared, knowing he could do nothing about it.
“Thayer,” he growled out. He had to get her calmed back down. Taking the hem of her shirt in his hands, careful not to touch her, he jerked on it, getting her attention. “We’re going to find you. You can survive until I come for you. I need you to stay strong for me. Understand?” She just stared at him with those big blue eyes.
“You are the most amazing woman I’ve ever met. I refuse to give up, so you can’t give up either. Tell me you can wait for me.” She nodded her head this time as he watched the steel come back in her eyes.
“Come on, I have to put you back,” he said after a few minutes. It broke his heart apart to see her trying to fight the fear bubbling so close to the surface. Leading her back down the tunnel, he watched as she climbed back on the cot, pulling the blanket over herself.
“When will you come back?” she asked quietly.
“Just as soon as I can. We’re going to head out to find you as soon as I get back. Whatever happens, I’ll be back tonight.”
She nodded again as a tear slipped down her face. Memphis backed slowly into the corner until he was shrouded in the shadows.
“Thayer?” She didn’t answer, so he continued anyway. “Just so you know. The next time I enter you. It won’t be as a hologram.” He smiled in the dark as he watched her mouth fall open in shock, temporarily forgetting her fear.
Chapter 6
“I wishyou came with a warning system on reentry,” Knox grumbled when Memphis sat up suddenly on the bed. His eyes wide, he looked over at Knox sitting in the chair before stumbling toward the bathroom.
